MadaboutKitcars

I have seen some 5 and 8 inch check straps for the doors.What have others used? thanks

Haven't fitted any yet so can't help. The door needs to open 90 deg to the car if that helps. Any more and the front edge will foul the A post, any less and it's more difficult to get in and out.

Robin

I'm making my own up - I bought the staples for them from Woolies, and will make the strap out of the same leather cloth as the interior trim.

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-981-staple.aspx

No! Don't do it! The force on the leather cloth is such that it will rip apart! You've got a mechanical advantage of in excess of 10:1 to a 30lb pull on the edge of the dorr will pull your strap with over 300lb. It will break, honest!

You need a really substantial bit of leather between the two staples. For my last car I got a saddler to make them up as my puny leathercloth just snapped when the door swung open in a light breeze.

Its also a very good idea on Ally/glassfibre doors to put a large spreader plate behind the staple or it will rip/deform the door.

Voice of experince here!

I was thinking about doing the same. I also bought some staples.

The plan was to double over the leathercloth and loop it arround the staples so that would spread the load over four layers. OK - so it isn't very strong - but the doors on the Sportster aren't very big or heavy either. Good tip from Chriss about the backing plate....

Robin

That or get some webbing / leather and wrap it in leather cloth so it matches the trim.

The Marlin supplied straps are about 5.5 inches and work just fine. They are thick good quality black leather and probably stronger than the door.
...peter

I used the Marlin supplied straps. They seem fine...
I set them them to open about 70-80 degrees I guess.